HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1073.001 2012-2014MY HOSPITAL Yukio Okutsu
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HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION
HAWAII COUNCIL MEETING — WEST HAWAII CIVIC CENTER = c�
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2014 - =C:)
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9:00 A.M.
74 -5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway V
Kailua -Kona, HI 96740'
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF RES. 545 -14 w
2015 HSAC LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE:
A Bill for an Act Relating to the Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation PrimarycD
Care Training Program (Proposed by the County of Hawai'i)
Elena Cabatu, Community Relations Manager, East Hawaii Region of Hawaii
Health Systems Corporation
Please accept this testimony in strong support of Res. 545 -14, consisting of
proposals to be included in the 2015 HSAC Legislative Package. As the Community
Relations Manager for the East Hawaii Region over the past 8 years, I humbly ask
for the Hawaii County Council's support for the package containing A Bill for an Act
Relating to the Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program
( HHSCPCTP).
Investing in training family practice residents in the neighbor islands is
expected to yield a meaningful return on investment.
Increasing the number of family practice physicians is expected to decrease
the number and rate of "potentially avoidable hospitalizations," which the
state now pays for through both its Medicaid program and unreimbursed care
by state's public hospital system, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.
In rural areas of the state the impact of the Residency Program and greater
access to family medicine physicians is projected to have a profound impact
on lowering the costs of treating expensive and debilitating conditions. For
example, diabetes and coronary heart disease have reached epidemic
proportions in Hawaii County compared to Oahu and other areas of the state
where there is greater access to primary care.
The known economic multiplier effect of additional physicians in Hawaii
means each additional physician is expected to generate 5 new jobs and
new tax revenue. (Source: The Lewin Group).
The HHSCPCTP uses an advanced model of care delivery that eliminates the need
to train or attract unrealistically high numbers of physicians. The current
predominant model of care throughout the country involves one primary care
physician caring for 1,200 -2,000 individuals with a small staff, usually including a
medical assistant and receptionist. The team model of care in which the 10 7 ?,a
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Ref. To:
Ref. date OCT I �
1190 Waianuenue Avenue - Hilo, Hawaii 96720 - Phone (808) 932 -3101 - Fax(808)974-4746
MY HOSPITAL
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MY COMMUNITY
HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION
HHSCPCTP is training Hawaii's future providers that will mean one physician and a
team to care for up to 5,000 patients. Critical team components include a nurse
practitioner or physician assistant and specialists in chronic disease management
such as pharmacists, certifiec diabetes educators, behavioral health providers,
licensed nurses, and well trained non - licensed staff.
It is well documented throughout the nation that physicians attending rural training
programs are much more likely to practice in a rural area. More than half of
residents trained at rural sites stay and practice in this setting after they completed
their residency. The same can be expected for advanced practice nurses,
psychologists, and clinical pharmacists.
I would like to thank the Council Members for their support of the Hawai'i Health
Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program within the 2015 HSAC
Legislative Package.
1190 Waianuenue Avenue - Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • Phone (808) 932 -3101 • Fax (808) 974 -4746